Local hearts beat strong (editorial)

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The Issue: Journey to help Jennifer Our View: Community should be proud
The community’s support for people in need continues to amaze us down at The Banner.
Take the situation facing Orangeville teenager Jennifer Flynn and her family for example. For reasons unbeknownst to us all, the Flynn family has been dealt a difficult hand of cards.
Jennifer suffers from Trisomy 12p, a rare disorder caused by having three copies of the short arm on her 12th chromosome, instead of the normal two.
Although Jennifer doesn’t have Pallister Killian Syndrome, an extremely rare genetic disorder, she displays the physical characteristics of it as well.
The young girl’s condition affects all cells in her body, causing hydrocephalus, seizures, a poor immune system, lack of depth perception and reverse astigmatism.
The Flynn family relies on Jennifer’s mother, Julie, about $51,000 income to survive. The young girl’s father, Richard, had to quit his job about 10 years ago to be her primary caregiver.
In the past, the Orangeville chapter of the Knights of Columbus helped pay some of their costs. Unfortunately, the family came to the realization it would not be able to cover the other costs for Jennifer on their own.
Needing thousands of dollars for a motorized wheelchair — Jennifer's manual one was falling apart — and a van retrofitted with an electronic lift, the family felt as if they had nowhere else to turn. They asked the community for help, and boy did it respond.
In about six months, the community took up the Flynn’s cause and helped the family raise a total of $45,000. Jennifer already has her motorized wheelchair, and the family has the retrofitted van in their possession.
This type of support from the community simply can’t be overlooked. Local residents should be proud to call Dufferin home.